University Advancement

Postseason awards: All-Mid-Major Madness Third Team

Believe it or not, an individual season of historic proportions occurred on a sub-.500 team in the Big West this season. That’s right. Cal State Northridge’s Diane was one of 71 players (since 1992) to average over 20 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks per game. His 818 points were 10th-highest in that span, which was more than Blake Griffin, Deandre Ayton, Paul Millsap and Tim Duncan could say. Armed with a nose for rebounding and an impossible-to-guard turnaround jumper, the redshirt freshman turned in a highly-decorated Big West Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year campaign. But he could get even better. Although the AP Honorable Mention All-American gained a bit of NBA Draft buzz, he’s a refined jumper away from being a surefire lottery pick. — Kyle Cajero